G/TBT/GEN/319  
 
17 January 2022  
(22-0355) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
 
CODEX UPDATE TO THE TBT COMMITTEE  
INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION (CODEX)  
This document contains information provided by CODEX  at the TBT Committee meeting of 
10-12 November 2021 under Agenda Item 4 (Update by Observers).  
 
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1  CODEX MEETINGS HELD SINCE THE LAST SESSION OF THE TBT COMMITTEE1 (2-4 JUNE 
2021)  
1.1  25th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and 
Certification Systems (CCFICS25, 31 May – 8 June 2021)  
1.1.1   The principles and guidelines for the assessment and use of voluntary Third -Party 
Assurance (vTPA) programmes  
1.1.  CCFICS25 concluded its work on the principles and guidelines for the assessment and use of 
voluntary Third -Party Assurance (vTPA) programmes and forwarded to CAC44 its final adoption.  
1.2.  Revision to the Guidance on Paperless Use of Electronic Certificates (Revised Guidelines for 
Design, Production, Issuance and Use of Generic Official Certificates (CXG 38 -2001))  
1.3.  CCFICS25 concluded its work on a Guida nce on Paperless Use of Electronic Certificates (i.e. 
Revision to the Guidelines for Design, Production, Issuance and Use of Generic Official Certificates  
(CXG 38 -2001)) and  forwarded to CAC44 for its final adoption.  
1.1.2   New work proposal  
1.4.  CCFICS25 forwarded fo r approval to CAC44, a proposal for new work related to a guidance on 
the prevention and control of food fraud.  
1.5.  The report of  CCFICS25  is available on the CCFICS page on the Codex  website.  
1.2  46th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL46, 27 September – 
7 October 2021)  
1.6.  CCFL46 concluded work on the General Standard for the Labelling of Non -Retail Containers and 
on the Guidelines on Front of Pack Nutrition Labelling.  CCFL will continue working on guidance on 
precautionary labelling and t on internet sales/e -commerce.  
1.7.  CCFL46 agreed to start new work on guidance on innovation subject to approval by CAC44. 
Discussions on labelling of alcoholic beverages and labelling of foods in joint presentation and 
 
1 NOTE: All Codex meetings in 2021 are being held virtually.  G/TBT/GEN/319  
 
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  multipack formats is ongoing. CCFL46 also agreed to consider at its next session possible work on 
sustainability claims and food labelling exemptions in emergency situations as well trans fatty acids.  
1.8.  The report of  CCFL46  is available on the CCFL page on the Codex  website .  
1.3  35th Session of the Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products  (CCFFP35, 
20 September  - 25 October 2021, working by correspondence)  
1.9.  CCFFP–working by correspondence – is tasked with evaluating  if the Standard for Canned 
Sardines and Sardine -Type Products  (CXS 94 -1981) could be amended to include the fish 
species  S. lemuru  (Bali Sardinella) in the list of  Sardinella  species under section 2.1. CCFFP35 
agreed to establish an EWG, chaired by the Philippines and co -chaired by the EU, working in English, 
French and Spanish, to oversee the sensory evaluation of the candidate species,  i.e S. lemuru  and 
report to the CCFFP36,  tentatively scheduled to take place in early 2023,  on its findings, conclusions 
and recommendations.   
The report of  CCFFP35  is available on the CCFFP page on the Codex  website . 
1.4  27th Session of the Codex Committee on Fats and Oils (CCFO27, 18 to 26 October 
2021)  
1.4.1   Amendment/ revision to the  Standard for Named Vegetable  Oils (CXS 210 -1999)  
1.10.   CCFO27 concluded its work on the revisions to the Standard for Named Vegetable  Oils (CXS 
210-1999) in respect of the composition of sunflowerseed oil and forwarded the revisions to CAC 45 
(2022) for final adoption.  
1.11.   CCFO27 agreed to forward the proposed amendments  to the  Standard for Named 
Vegetable  Oils (CXS 210 -draft standards: inclusion of avocado oil to CAC 45 (2022) for the 
preliminary adoption and agreed to continue to work on outstanding issues for the consideration at 
the next session.  
1.4.2   Proposed draft revisi on to the Standard for Olive Oils and Olive Pomace Oils  
1.12.   CCFO27 agreed to continue work on the proposed amendments/revision to the Standard for 
Olive Oils and Olive Pomace Oils  through the Electronic working Group for the consideration at the 
next session.  
1.4.3   New work proposals  
1.13.   CCFO27 forwarded  four new work proposals for approval by CAC45,  namely work on high 
oleic acid  soy bean  oil, sacha  inchi oil and camellia oil,  which would lead to revisions to the Standard 
for Named Vegetable  Oils (CXS 210 -1999) and new work on  calanus  oil which would lead to a 
revision of the Standard for  Fish Oils (CXS-239-2017).   
1.14.   The report of CCFO27 will become available  on the CCFO page on the  Codex webpage . 
2  FORTHCOMING CODEX MEETINGS  
• 44th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (8 – 18 November 2021)  
• 42nd session of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses 
(19 November - 1 December 2021)  
2.1.  Regular updates on the status of work of these Committees are published on their dedicated 
webpages on the Codex website . For specific questions on the status of work in Codex committees 
of interest to TBT delegates please check the dedicated webpages or send an email to 
codex@fao.org . 
2.2.  The Codex Secretariat in collaboration with host secretariats and working group leads will are 
continuing to convene working group meetings and webinars in advance of Codex subsidiary sessions G/TBT/GEN/319  
 
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  to support delegations ' preparations and facilitate discussions  and consensus -building. Further 
information is available on the Committee webpages and the Codex calendar . 
 
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